Study, 1975
Does water retention in the body cause breast pain?
A study of 56 women measured body water levels at different times in their menstrual cycle. Most women did not show the expected increase in water before menstruation, and changes in water did not match whether women had breast pain.
What they did
Researchers measured total body water in 56 women (39 with breast pain, the rest without symptoms) at the beginning and end of their menstrual cycles.
What they found
Most women did not show the expected increase in body water before menstruation. In some women, water decreased during the cycle, and in others it stayed the same from early in the cycle. No pattern of water change correlated with breast pain or with emotional profiles.
What it means for you
Although it was thought that water retention causes breast pain, this study found no connection between the two. This suggests water retention is not the cause of breast pain.
56
women studied
39
women with breast pain
About the study
- Original title
- Mastalgia and total body water
- Authors
- Preece PE, Richards AR, Owen GM et al.
- Journal
- British medical journal
- Year
- 1975
- Study design
- Study
- Participants
- 56
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1136/bmj.4.5995.498
Topics
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